Africadelic2025: Online Film Program

Streaming Online | May 21-31, 2025

The 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗙𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 will take place from 𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟭-𝟯𝟭 across venues in 𝗔𝗺𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗺 and 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. This year, our friends from 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰 focus on the 𝟱𝟬𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 of five African countries – 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗮 🇦🇴, 𝗠𝗼𝘇𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 🇲🇿, 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲 🇨🇻, 𝗦𝗮𝗼 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗲 & 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗲 and the 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗼𝘀 🇰🇲 – as well as 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲 🇸🇷. During the festival, they will reflect on the 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 in these countries to resist and overthrow colonial rule throughout the 20th century and until the present day. Apart from an 𝗼𝗻-𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, they also offer a free, 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, facilitated by us through our 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗬𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲 from 𝟮𝟭-𝟯𝟭 𝗠𝗮𝘆!

🎟️ For more info and tickets for the 𝗼𝗻-𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀, please visit 𝗮𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗰.𝗰𝗼𝗺. For the 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗺 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺, which will be 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝟮𝟰/𝟳 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 (May 21–31), see below!

ANGOLA

50 Kwanzas (2024, 4′, dir. Jesualdo Muvuma, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
50 Kwanzas follows Tchicolassonhi, a ‘Zungueira’ (in Angola, the term for female street vendors), in her daily struggle for better conditions for herself and her family. It is an almost endless journey in pursuit of the ’50 Kz’, one of the lowest-value and most widely circulated coins in Angola (around €0.4), which may mean little to many, but bring color to the life of a Zungueira. Beyond the subjectivity of value, the film delves into themes of grief, resilience, and offers a social critique of the police violence that Zungueiras face every day. The entire film was animated frame by frame in Adobe Photoshop, edited in Davinci Resolve, and is the result of a mixture of digital and traditional art (many of the backgrounds and textures were made with watercolour and oil pastel).

Kangamba (2009, 96′, dir. Rogelio Paris)

The Great Angolan Oil Rush (ABC Australia, 2003, 15 min)
Angola is quickly becoming one of the world’s most promising new oil sources. However, lawyer Rafael Marques claims: “for the majority of Angolans, oil essentially is a curse.” Thousands are forced out of their homes to make way for foreign investors. A leaked IMF report reveals that billions of dollars of revenue never even reach Angola. Instead, payments are channelled through offshore accounts and remain unaccounted for. When BP promised to publish its under the counter payments to Angolan officials, they received a stinging letter threatening to terminate their contract. This letter was copied to all other oil companies. However, with lucrative oil contracts at stake, no-one is prepared to challenge the government.

CABO VERDE

A Nation Running Out of Water (DW News, 2017, 4 min)
Water is already scarce on Cape Verde, a small island nation off Africa’s west coast. As climate change exacerbates the problem, what can the country’s government do about it?

Cape Verde: Tourism Threatens Seabird Populations (DW News, 2022, 4 min)
Seabird populations are declining worldwide. On the island of Sal in Cape Verde, researchers are hoping to protect red-billed tropicbirds against the growing threat of tourism.

COMOROS

Exploitation of the Ylang Ylang Flower in Comoros: Good Practices (Indian Ocean Commission, 2019, 13 min)
This short documentary shows the sustainable management of biodiversity resources in Comoros through the Biodiversity Programme, implemented by the Indian Ocean Commission in partnership with the European Union.

GUINEA-BISSAU

Mortu Nega (Death Denied, 1988, 92′, dir. Flora Gomes)
A landmark film from Guinea-Bissau blending love, war, and independence struggle in a poetic narrative.

Xime (1994, 96′, dir. Sana Na N’Hada)
Set in the final years of Portuguese colonial rule in Guinea-Bissau, this film centers around a father-son conflict.

Estas São As Armas (These Are the Weapons, 56′, 1978)
A film depicting Guinea-Bissau’s armed struggle for independence, blending documentary and propaganda.

MOZAMBIQUE

A Luta Continua! (The Struggle Continues, 1973, 37′)
A Luta Continua (The Struggle Continues) is a documentary film by Robert Van Lierop which depicts the FRELIMO struggle for the independence of Mozambique from Portugal. A Luta Continua explains the military struggle of the Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO) against the Portuguese. Produced and narrated by American activist Robert Van Lierop, it details the relationship of the liberation to the wider regional and continental demands for self-determination against minority rule. It notes the complicit roles of foreign governments and companies in supporting Portugal against the African nationalists. Footage from the front lines of the struggle helps contextualize FRELIMO’s African socialist ideology, specifically the role of the military in building the new nation, a commitment to education, demands for sexual equality, the introduction of medical aid into the countryside, and the role of culture in creating a single national identity. Filmed by an African-American crew in 1971, within liberated zones of the country, the documentary has been called, “one of the most effective … for the mobilization of international solidarity” with FRELIMO. Released in 1972 and broadcast on the US television station GBH in October 1973, the documentary links the independence struggle in Southern Africa with the civil rights and Black Power movements in the United States. It is credited with influencing strategies of African-American grassroots community organizing in the 1970s and anti-apartheid activism in the US in the 1980s. The film contains the only footage of battle recorded from the FRELIMO side of the Independence War.

Era Oculta (Hidden Era, 2024, 76′, dir. Carlos Vargas, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
Set in the vibrant city of Maputo, Mozambique, Era Oculta centers on Phambi, a Rastafari artist striving to provide a better life for his son, Ixon. Phambi faces financial hardships that threaten his ability to keep Ixon enrolled in school due to unpaid fees. His artistic journey intertwines with Paula and Ednora, feminist activists who pose for his paintings, highlighting themes of art, activism, and societal norms. The film delves into the challenges and triumphs of an artist navigating Mozambique’s unique cultural landscape, exploring the transformative power of art as a form of resilience against adversity. It also sheds light on the collaborative spirit within the artistic community and the role of women in shaping societal narratives. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2024, where it received attention for its nuanced portrayal of Maputo’s art scene and the interplay between personal aspirations and broader social movements.

Faces Of Africa – Samora Machel: The Struggle Continues (2015, 29′)
The documentary Faces of Africa – Samora Machel: The Struggle Continues offers an in-depth look at the life and legacy of Samora Machel, Mozambique’s first president and a pivotal figure in Africa’s anti-colonial liberation movements. Produced by CGTN Africa, the film traces Machel’s transformation from a nurse witnessing racial inequality to a revolutionary leader who played a central role in Mozambique’s fight for independence from Portuguese colonial rule. Born in 1933 in Gaza Province, Machel experienced firsthand the injustices of colonialism, including forced cotton farming imposed on his family. His early career as a nurse exposed him to systemic racism, as black nurses were paid less than their white counterparts. These experiences fueled his commitment to social justice, leading him to join the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) in Tanzania, where he received military training and rose through the ranks to become a prominent leader. Under Machel’s leadership, FRELIMO declared Mozambique’s independence on June 25, 1975. As president, Machel championed socialist ideals, focusing on eradicating inequality, illiteracy, poverty, and corruption. He is renowned for his rallying cry, “A luta continua” (“The struggle continues”), which became emblematic of ongoing efforts toward social and economic justice. The documentary features insights from individuals who knew Machel personally, including his daughter Olivia Machel, who now manages the Samora Machel Documentation Center. It also includes reflections from Mozambican citizens and journalists who discuss the enduring relevance of Machel’s vision and the challenges the country faces today.

Mabata Bata (2018, 74′, dir. Sol Carvalho, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
Azarias is a young orphan shepherd, keeper of a herd of oxen, where the ox Mabata Bata stands out. The oxen will be the basis of the “lobolo” payment, a traditional dowry that his uncle Raul must pay for his own marriage. Azarias’ dream is to be a normal child, to go to school, gold that is supported by his grandmother. One day, when Azariah is in the pasture, Mabata Bata steps into a mine – the result of the civil war in the country – and explodes. The young man fears his uncle’s reprisals and flees to the forest, taking with him the remaining oxen. The grandmother and uncle leave in their quest to rescue him and persuade him to return.

O Tempo dos Leopardos (The Time of the Leopards, 1985, dir. Zdravko Velimirović)
O Tempo dos Leopardos (1985), also known as Time of the Leopards, is a significant war drama co-produced by Mozambique and Yugoslavia. Directed by Zdravko Velimirović, it holds the distinction of being the first feature film produced in Mozambique. Set in 1971 during the final years of Portuguese colonial rule, the film offers a fictionalized portrayal of the Mozambican War of Independence from the perspective of the colonized. The narrative centers on two childhood friends—one Mozambican and one Portuguese—who find themselves on opposing sides of the liberation struggle. Beyond its historical context, O Tempo dos Leopardos serves as a political allegory, emphasizing themes of betrayal and national identity. Notably, the film portrays the most dangerous antagonist not as a Portuguese colonizer but as a Mozambican traitor within the liberation movement, reflecting the internal challenges faced during the fight for independence. Premiering in Maputo in 1985 to commemorate a decade of independence, the film was celebrated for its contribution to Mozambican cinema and its role in shaping national identity through the arts.

Samora Machel’s Struggle: How Mozambique’s Revolution Ended Portugal’s Empire (2025, 45′)
The documentary Samora Machel’s Struggle: How Mozambique’s Revolution Ended Portugal’s Empire (2025, 45 minutes) offers an exploration of Mozambique’s decade-long fight for independence, led by Samora Machel and the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO). It delves into the historical, political, and social dynamics that culminated in the collapse of Portugal’s colonial empire in Africa. The film traces Machel’s evolution from a nurse witnessing systemic racial injustices to a revolutionary leader who galvanized a nation. It examines how FRELIMO’s guerrilla warfare tactics, combined with international support and mounting pressure on Portugal, contributed to the eventual independence of Mozambique. The documentary also sheds light on the broader implications of Mozambique’s liberation, highlighting its role in inspiring other anti-colonial movements across the continent.

The Kids Look at the Sky (2024, 11′, dir. Enric Ribes)
The Kids Look at the Sky is a short documentary directed by Enric Ribes that offers a poignant glimpse into the lives of a community living with albinism on the outskirts of Maputo, Mozambique. The film delves into the myths and cultural perceptions surrounding albinism, highlighting the resilience and unity of this community as they navigate societal challenges. Through poetic visuals and intimate storytelling, Ribes captures the essence of their daily experiences, emphasizing themes of survival, identity, and hope.

SAO TOME & PRINCIPE

Sao Tome and Principe: An Island Nation for Sale? (Marion Mayer-Horsdalh, 2017, 27 min)
The untouched islands of Sao Tome and Principe are facing a huge influx of foreign investment. Does this present an opportunity to the economy or a threat to the islanders’ slow, steady way of life? The islands are gaining a lot of attention from abroad. “Sao Tome is a poor country and when investors come they can bring us jobs and bring us money”, says Julio da Silva, a government official. There is a lot of potential on the islands that foreign investors are keen to exploit. Jacques Le Roux, manager of the Belo Monte Hotel, claims that “we use 20% of the island, the other 80% is still undiscovered”. It is hoped that the island’s natural beauty – beaches and rainforests – will also boost eco-tourism. “The people who live here, it’s very tranquil, and I think it would be good for many tourists to come’, says Francisco da Graça Alamô, a National Park Warden.

SURINAME

Brokopondo: Stories of a Drowned Land (1994, 47′, dir. John Albert Jansen, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
The construction of the Brokopondo dam and hydro-electric plant in the 1960s gave an important boost to the economy of Surinam, a former Dutch colony. However it also caused the flooding of lands and villages of 5,000 Saramaccan Maroons. In 1994 filmmaker John Albert Jansen returned to the site of devastation, together with Surinam writer Dorus Vrede who was born in one of the drowned villages. In the documentary Brokopondo: Stories of a Drowned Land, Jansen traces the origins of the Brokopondo project, the benefits to the economy of Surinam and the consequences of transmigration for the Maroon people, who after having lived a secluded life in the area since the eighteenth century, were forced to leave their traditional lands. Their rich hunting ground now at the bottom of Afobaka Lake. The building of the Brokopondo dam and the forced departure of the Saramaccan people is a powerful example of a clash between economic and cultural systems.

Untold Stories: The Last Days of Anton de Kom (2022, 3′)

Futu Pasi (2022), Episode 0, Episode 1 and Episode 2

Stones Have Laws (Dee Sitonu a Weti, 2018, 100′, dir. Lonnie van Brummelen and Siebren de Haan i.c.w. Maroon communities of Suriname, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
Stones Have Laws (Dee Sitonu a Weti) is an immersive initiation into the life of a Maroon community in the former Dutch colony of Suriname. Combining stories of African ancestral traditions and escaped slavery with enacted contemporary rituals, the film explores how the community’s powerful ties to the land have become endangered as industries threaten to devastate the region through deforestation and mining. The project was initiated by the Dutch artists Lonnie van Brummelen, Siebren de Haan and developed in collaboration with the Surinamese theater maker Tolin Erwin Alexander, himself Okanisi Maroon. The three of them closely involved the Maroon community in the development of the script, which was written using an experimental process of collective scripting. Members of the community perform the scenes in front of the camera while crickets, birds, trees, the stones, and the rushing waters of the Suriname River act along. The result is a unique cinematic form that bridges filmmaking, poetry and theatre.

OTHER

Children of the Diaspora (Les Enfants de la Diaspora, 2024, 8′, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
Children of the Diaspora (Les Enfants de la Diaspora) is a short film directed by Sabrina Onana, an Italo-Cameroonian sociologist and filmmaker. The film delves into the inner monologue of a child of Afro-descendant immigrants, exploring the complexities of identity within the African diaspora. Through poetic narration, the film addresses themes such as community healing, reconciliation of collective memory, and the reimagining of post-colonial Euro-African relations. Onana encourages Afro-European youth to embrace their African heritage while acknowledging their multifaceted identities. Rather than portraying the diasporic experience as a burden, the film presents it as an opportunity to explore fundamental questions of human existence.

Strike a Rock (2017, 87′, dir. Aliki Saragas-Georgio, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
Marikana is a mining town in South Africa where police opened fire on striking workers in 2012, killing a shocking total of 34 men. It marked the start of a grim conflict between women from the community and the mining company, which breached its obligations for worker housing in scandalous ways. The two leading campaigners are grandmothers, one of whom, the indomitable Primrose, even manages to win a seat in parliament, raising their battle for justice to a whole new level. In this intimate, close-up account, the poor but utterly determined women question why they get so little in return for the valuable platinum that’s mined there, day in and day out, for wealthy British people. Their years-long struggle for justice and recognition is being ignored by the higher-ups at the company, so what should the women do to make sure they are heard? Will the solidarity and close friendships in the village survive the onslaught from the forces at the center of power, or will their struggle be used for political gain?

Surfing Soweto (2010, 82′, dir. Dimi Raphoto and Sara Blecher, FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE!)
‘Surfing’ on top of speeding trains is the ultimate adrenaline experience for South Africa’s disillusioned youth. It’s illegal, dangerous and has already killed hundreds. Surfing Soweto is the story of this forgotten generation of alienated youth, born during the glowing promise after the demise of apartheid and yet without the skills or wherewithal to reap the benefits of their newly won freedoms. Four years in the making, this documentary chronicles the lives of three of the most notorious train surfers in Soweto: Bitch Nigga, Lefa and Mzembe. Surfing Soweto shows them riding on the top of trains, which in South Africa is known as ‘ukudlala istaff’, ducking as they hurtle past lethal electrical cables, and also in the intimacy of their homes and families. ‘I always wanted to be a stuntman, explains Bitch Nigga. He doesn’t just surf trains. He ducks bridges, does push ups and has come up with his own entertainment routine, performed from the top of a racing train. Most of the surfers come from broken homes. They spend their days drinking, smoking and teaching each other the latest train surfing techniques. This documentary aims to understand their frustrations and to document the lives of the new generation of youth in Soweto.